Other Capital Projects

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office didn’t used to be so easy to find. Prior to the opening of the new MCSO Headquarters, members of the public had to navigate tight parking garages and the lobby of a major bank building before traveling 19 floors on an elevator where they were greeted by a wall with a call button and an intercom system that went straight to a receptionist.

Chief Brian Lee recalled that the previous location, in the Wells Fargo building downtown, did not present the welcoming environment that one would hope for when seeking help from a major law enforcement agency. “I can remember stepping off of the elevator while heading to my office and constantly coming across members of the public who seemed confused and lost because they were not sure if they were in the right place.” Needless to say, it wasn’t the most convenient or accessible location for the four million residents that MCSO served.

(Before: Located in the Wells Fargo Building.)

“Public safety is a key priority of this board,” said Supervisor Clint Hickman, District 4. “This building makes MCSO more accessible to the public, and allows the Sheriff and his staff to do their job in a more efficient way.”

(After: Located inside one central, sustainable building.)

The facility is also distinctive visually. MCSO Headquarters incorporates a unique “bridge” design that reduces its footprint in the downtown location and also utilizes Zinc Scrim for solar shading properties. The building’s award-winning architecture is like nothing else in the downtown area and has created a distinctive presence for a law enforcement agency that is eager to increase its interaction with the public.